ArtnLight

My exhibition at the Nine Lives Exhibition in Ahmedabad was a 1st for me in more ways than one. My 1st exhibition with established designers like Alpana Gujral and Poonam Bhagat. The 1st time I had a stall independently and the 1st time I experienced what it feels like to stand in the middle of all my work in a public forum. It was exhilirating and humbling to field the millions of questions on decoupage, why I do what I do and where I am from. It was interesting to see 1st hand how people reacted to the work, and what they were interested in and what they bought. Sharing a few pictures of the stall and how it all looked.

Can't describe to you the feeling of seeing artnlight like this. This one is for all you who have been following this blog from the time it was born.

I added framed descriptors for my work & what artnlight is about, and 2 more frames about my Rajasthan Series and my Mumbai series.

A closer look at the drawers :)

The descriptor for my Mumbai series below says: "Bombay is the city I grew up in, it is where I learnt all that I know, it is constant inspiration and it is home. Its people, its commitment to work, its enterprise, its opportunity and its idiosyncrasies is what makes this series. I don’t think I will ever stop trying to bring its spirit to life. This is the beginning of my ongoing tribute to the city that fuels a million dreams and is the pride of this country. My tribute to a city that respects its women & gives them a huge canvas and more importantly the freedom to play in it."

An interesting thing happened. Among all the pretty young things that were browsing the stall, there stood an old man looking at this. And he asked me how much it is for. I told him, its not for sale because, it is just a descriptor about why I made the Bombay series. He again repeated that he wants to buy it and asked me to name a price. I named a price and he asked me if I can reduce it, he said he lived in Bombay for 45 years and that he doesn't know if his wife will like it, but he wants to buy it and how much will I sell it for. I sold it to him and it was my most memorable sale of the exhibition :)

When I make one more set of the alphabets LOVE, I will include close up of the poetry by Vikram Seth on it. The letters LOV have Vikram Seth's poems written on them & E has Ellliot :) O has a poem on it called 'Round & round'. Forgive my cheap thrills :)

Got three quick shots of it before it went into the bubble wrap and off with the person who bought it.

I saw so many mothers & fathers saying their kids would love this. This piece is now in a store called Sagaa Lifestyle in Ahmedabad.

And for all those who asked where you can buy them, you can write to me on vineetanair2222@gmail.com. Some of these products will be shipped to about to be launched in shops in Surat & Bangalore. Or look for them in Loose Ends (Bandra, Bombay) and Orange bicycle (Bangalore) by the 1st week of next month.

Sneak peek! Finally a whole bunch of ideas I've had for the last year got made this past week. Its been exhilarating working with my painters and carpenters and finally putting finishing touches to my products, as they sat outside my tiny office drying and attracting all sorts of attention from passers by. Just packed a WHOLE load of stuff off to the Nine Lives exhibition venue today and after a week full of nights with not more than 3 hours of sleep, I am peaceful. Sharing with you guys a few behind the curtains scenes & a few of my new products. I hope you like them as much as I do.

This is breaking tradition & sharing my most favourite picture 1st instead of last. The scene outside my office at some 2 am I think. My painter also took a picture of this on his mobile :) I loved the way these trays and alphabets (yes alphabets!! so excited) look all ready to be worked on.That was outside, this is inside - net net - no place to sit or stand. Products products every where!I have wanted to make alphabets for forever now. Finally they are a reality. I am so kicked :) This is just a sneak peek. Will share all the pieces I made. Not all 26 just a few words. More in my next posts.I also finally got around to making drawers. And this one has poetry on it ( like the piece in my home) only this is a much smaller version. This is how it looks .This one was absolutely last day, last minute. I thought I wouldn't do it for this exhibition, but in the morning the design I hated the previous night started looking much better & this came into being. My mom loves this piece.These are part of a new series of triangular mirrors. Some have design & some typography on them. Available in many colours, will share the whole range later."If you can fill the unforgiving minute with 60 seconds worth of run" Kipling on my mirror. I also thought it is a great reminder when I see my face in it, to actually fill my time with worth.

A glimpse of one more drawer with my Rajasthani Jaipur design on it. Yes that's all my stuff drying in the background. I told you the onlookers & passers by had an eyeful.Looking forward to a good exhibition, keep your fingers crossed for me. Will go and catch my 2 hrs of sleep now.

The details I promised: The exhibition is in Ahmedabad and is called Nine Lives. To say I'm excited will be an understatement. Have been slogging these past 10 days towards it. Please do come all of you who can. Do treat this as a personal invitation. I will be happy to meet you :) And you will also get to see the new products I have created . Some of it just makes me so happy. Its stuff I have been wanting to make for a while & not moved my ass on. Finally its all ready & finishing touches are in progress. I am just sooo grateful to be able to have fun like this.Here's the jpg of the invite Rachita Parekh sent. She is the founder of Nine Lives, which is an organisation dedicated to promoting arts & crafts. The exhibition is on the 18th & 19th of Feb at the Safal Profitaire, in Prahladnagar in Ahmedabad.

That's my name in the 3rd last line to the right - fun!!

And imagine my surprise when I saw this jpg that she sent me as part of the press coverage the exhibition is getting. I never knew I will ever feel so happy to see my designs thus dotted in news print :) Ahmedabad Times, Feb 13th 2011.

I have taken a few pictures of the new stuff & if I get time before the exhibition, I will definitely share it here. Its been a huge learning experience these 10 days. Planning, managing workers (this one has to be the biggest) and really putting in my maximum. And in all of it to see the huge amounts of support I get from my mom & my friends. I'm just so grateful.

Work work work. In the thick of it & enjoying it. Getting ready for an exhibition. My biggest yet. And it was sooo last minute. Here are peeks into my office & the madness within. I warn you - its not neat. And confession: I have sifted through the pictures and painstakingly chosen the 'neater' ones - That's why there are precisely 3 :)

Meantime, there have been other exciting projects which I will keep you guys posted with as soon I get time. For now, I just had to do a quick heads up & tell you guys, I'm alive and kicking it :) More soon, details & pics. I promise.

About Me

I'm an ex-advertising art director, who stumbled into the world of design blogging not knowing that it would change my life. I am now an independent design consultant with a growing decor accessories business.